Salvage Cryoablation and Robotic Seminal Vesiculectomy: A Novel Salvage Treatment for Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to describe a novel salvage surgical technique combining cryoablation of the prostate and robotic excision of the seminal vesicle (SV) for locally recurrent prostate cancer (LRPC) of the SV with or without prostate involvement following radiation therapy (RT) or focal therapy (FT). Materials and Methods: Seven men with biopsy-proven LRPC involving the SV with or without adjacent prostate following primary RT or FT underwent combined salvage focal cryoablation (FCA) and robotic excision of the SV. Descriptive statistics characterized the cohort and outcomes. Results: Median follow-up was 1.4 years. There were no surgical complications, and the length of stay was 1 day in all cases. No patients experienced any new urinary incontinence following removal of the catheter. Erectile function was preserved in both men exhibiting preoperative erections adequate for intercourse. Of the four patients developing recurrent disease, three involved only the contralateral SV; they all underwent a second salvage FCA and robotic seminal vesiculectomy (RSV). One patient presenting with high-risk disease developed systematic metastasis. He is alive and managed with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). One patient developed persistent local disease recurrence and is on ADT. The other five patients are disease-free based on the most recent multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and prostate specific antigen (PSA). Conclusions: This study highlights the feasibility and effectiveness of salvage FCA and RSV as a salvage treatment for LRPC of the SV with or without involvement of the prostate following primary RT or FT. Based on our outcomes, we recommend considering a bilateral salvage FCA and RSV in men with unilateral SV recurrence following primary RT. We recommend unilateral salvage FCA and seminal vesiculectomy in men with unilateral SV and prostate involvement following primary partial cryoablation provided no contralateral disease is identified.